The Neue freie Presse reproduces Gerhard Hauptmann's response to Maeterlinck.1 I find the response feeble; it would have been more drastic, if not also more generally convincing, to reply as follows: Since Maeterlinck – on this there cannot be any doubt whatsoever – for sure summoned all his own culture for the production of his work, then one can understand {669} with how little culture he basically brought them into being if he did not still have so much culture that he was able to recognize German genius for what it was and simply and insultingly called them "barbarians." The conclusion is convincing: that Mr. Maeterlinck, as I have always maintained, had only limited means to achieve limited effects. That they were sufficient for himself, and for a level of German society as yet inexperienced in its own culture, cannot be used as a counter-argument.

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It has been reported that our court theaters are excluding works by French, English and Russian authors from their repertory.2 And so it is only the war that has brought the Germans to the point where the French, English and Russians have long stood. These nations, lagging far behind in education and ability have – partly from vanity, partly from inability – made no effort to cultivate the products of German intellect. It is hoped that Germany will now steer further along the course that it has now taken.

In recent days, a remark made by the English minister for trade was much quoted, according to which the world war was designated simply as a "favorable business activity." The essence of England is contained in this expression.
— Another English expression: "Like a mastiff, England will not leave its quarry alone until it has torn all the flesh from it."3 From this threat all that will remain, one hopes, is the image of England as a mastiff. How very differently, on the other hand, are the words that the German put into their mouths. From the emperors and their telegrams until the last soldier, what nobility; even in the wartime jokes of German and English soldiers, one looks in vain for self-characterization of the sort contained in the above-quoted English expressions.

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{670} May these words of a commander, following a victory, be preserved: "The line to which we were commanded has been reached."4

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Evening papers finally bring a semi-official confirmation of a real and lasting Italian neutrality (see the supplement!).5 It is indeed clear that the less Austria and Germany are interested in acquisitions in north Africa, the greater are Italy's chances of taking these parts for themselves, as the Roman Empire once did, as soon as France's and England's might is finally broken. The present world war further demonstrates – at least until now – the superiority of the Dual Alliance, and so the smartest thing that Italy could really do would be to stick with the stronger powers; for who does not know that the alliance with a stronger power is always more advantageous than one with a weaker one!

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In Paris, a new ministry, apparently for the defense of the republican form of government, has been established. The expected breakout of anger among the French people is to be forestalled at the outset by men of esteem being placed at the head of government and maintaining the present governmental reform.6

The Neue freie Presse reproduces Gerhard Hauptmann's response to Maeterlinck.1 I find the response feeble; it would have been more drastic, if not also more generally convincing, to reply as follows: Since Maeterlinck – on this there cannot be any doubt whatsoever – for sure summoned all his own culture for the production of his work, then one can understand {669} with how little culture he basically brought them into being if he did not still have so much culture that he was able to recognize German genius for what it was and simply and insultingly called them "barbarians." The conclusion is convincing: that Mr. Maeterlinck, as I have always maintained, had only limited means to achieve limited effects. That they were sufficient for himself, and for a level of German society as yet inexperienced in its own culture, cannot be used as a counter-argument.

*

It has been reported that our court theaters are excluding works by French, English and Russian authors from their repertory.2 And so it is only the war that has brought the Germans to the point where the French, English and Russians have long stood. These nations, lagging far behind in education and ability have – partly from vanity, partly from inability – made no effort to cultivate the products of German intellect. It is hoped that Germany will now steer further along the course that it has now taken.

In recent days, a remark made by the English minister for trade was much quoted, according to which the world war was designated simply as a "favorable business activity." The essence of England is contained in this expression.
— Another English expression: "Like a mastiff, England will not leave its quarry alone until it has torn all the flesh from it."3 From this threat all that will remain, one hopes, is the image of England as a mastiff. How very differently, on the other hand, are the words that the German put into their mouths. From the emperors and their telegrams until the last soldier, what nobility; even in the wartime jokes of German and English soldiers, one looks in vain for self-characterization of the sort contained in the above-quoted English expressions.

*

{670} May these words of a commander, following a victory, be preserved: "The line to which we were commanded has been reached."4

*

Evening papers finally bring a semi-official confirmation of a real and lasting Italian neutrality (see the supplement!).5 It is indeed clear that the less Austria and Germany are interested in acquisitions in north Africa, the greater are Italy's chances of taking these parts for themselves, as the Roman Empire once did, as soon as France's and England's might is finally broken. The present world war further demonstrates – at least until now – the superiority of the Dual Alliance, and so the smartest thing that Italy could really do would be to stick with the stronger powers; for who does not know that the alliance with a stronger power is always more advantageous than one with a weaker one!

*

In Paris, a new ministry, apparently for the defense of the republican form of government, has been established. The expected breakout of anger among the French people is to be forestalled at the outset by men of esteem being placed at the head of government and maintaining the present governmental reform.6